After the relative comfort of the festive season some people might well be inclined to swap lazy days for adventures out in the world. Adventure Tourism is increasingly becoming a major part of the holiday leisure industry as people increasingly seek out more exciting and exotic destinations. Whether you’re planning your next adventure or thinking of getting into this expanding and fascinating sector, here are a few potential destinations to help fire up your imagination.
North America – The Grand Canyon
The United States is renowned as an international holiday destination for its theme parks, cities and beaches. But the country also boasts some of the most striking natural scenery in the world. The Grand Canyon is one such feature, running for over 277 miles and 18 miles wide, this geographical wonder has been revered by American Indians for thousands of years and is as inspiring today as ever. And being located in an English speaking first world country, makes an excellent early choice for an adventurous soul not quite ready to through themselves head first into a completely foreign environment.
South America – Machu Picchu
If your desire for adventure extends to visiting lost cities, than the Incan city of Machu Picchu should be on your itinerary for global exploration. Thought to have been built in the mid-15th century, Machu Picchu was abandoned a century later during Spanish colonialism throughout Peru and the rest of South America and was forgotten until it’s rediscovery in 1911. This terraced mountain city is a truly remarkable feat that will fill any explorer with awe at the site of it.
Asia – Mount Everest
The biggest mountain in the world, Mount Everest has long called the adventurous to scale its far up summit. At 8,848 meters above sea level there is no higher place on Earth. Scaling it is almost certainly the high point of any climber’s career though care should be taken – not for nothing is the post 8000 meter part of the climb called the “Death Zone”. Over 150 people believed to have died past this point have never been recovered.
Australia – The Great Barrier Reef
The largest living thing on earth, the Great Barrier Reef off the north east coast of Australia is the largest coral formation on the planet. This world heritage icon is a unique environment and home to billions of fish and other organisms who subsist amongst the polyps and is so large it can be seen from Outerspace.
Interested adventure tourists should take care to visit sooner than later however. Since 1985 it is estimated the reef has lost almost half its coral cover due to pollution and global warming despite ongoing conservation efforts to halt destruction.
Masai Mara National Reserve – Kenya, Africa
The biggest safari reserve in Africa is as Masai-Mara in Kenya. Here visitors can see some of the most iconic African animals including Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, Wildebeest and more. It attracts tourists and researches around the world keen to see the huge diversity of animals that the park offers.
Again though, human encroachment is causing a fall in wild animal numbers due to settlement, land taken over for grazing and poaching. Adventure Tourism guides however can help by providing an important financial incentive to preserve and protect the native animals and habitat.
